GILBERT, Ariz.
—The Eastern Oregon University baseball team opened its 2026 season with a hard-fought 7–6 loss to Park University–Gilbert on Friday afternoon, as the Bucs walked off with the win in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Eastern (0–1) struck first in the third inning.
Andrew Demianew singled to center field before advancing into scoring position, and
Mario Landeros brought him home with a sacrifice fly to right. Moments later,
Greyson McDaniel delivered an RBI single to give the Mounties an early 2–0 advantage.
After Park-Gilbert evened the score in the fifth, EOU responded in the sixth.
Easton Espinoza was hit by a pitch and later scored on an RBI groundout by
Alex Olague, while an ensuing defensive error allowed
Carson Gerding to cross the plate and restore a two-run cushion.
Eastern regained the lead again in the seventh inning when Espinoza doubled to left field, driving in
Jace Nagler. The Mounties extended their advantage to 6–4 in the eighth as Nagler singled to right field to score
Lucas Smith.
Park-Gilbert answered with two unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game before sealing the contest in the ninth. After a leadoff double, the Bucs plated the winning run on a walk-off single to left field.
Espinoza led Eastern offensively, finishing 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a run scored, and a stolen base. Smith went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored, while Demianew added two hits and crossed the plate once. The Mounties totaled 10 hits and drew five walks in the contest.
On the mound,
Easton Corey was sharp in his first Eastern start, allowing just one hit and striking out seven batters over four scoreless innings. Eastern used five pitchers overall, with
Keola Yim credited with the loss after the walk-off run scored in the ninth.
The Mounties continue their series against Park tomorrow, February 7, at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. at in Tempe Diablo Stadium.
